Honoring Your Loved One with a Graveside Service

by Expert Contributor Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr., F.D, Owner of DANJOLELL Memorial Homes

Funerals are a final significant milestone in people’s lives. Whether it’s a traditional funeral, a memorial celebration or a graveside service, they are all opportunities to pay last respects to a loved one. You may want to consider a graveside service if you’d rather celebrate your loved one’s life outdoors, or if there is no specific religious affiliation.

Although in the past, a graveside service has taken place immediately after the funeral service, it can be a stand-alone event. In some cases, it’s an intimate ceremony only for family and close friends, but others may be open to more guests or even as an event for the community. Although they’re typically held when the deceased is interred in a casket, you can also have a graveside service if the deceased is cremated.

The graveside service is typically held at the deceased’s final resting place — usually a cemetery or private burial ground near a mausoleum or columbarium niche. If the deceased was cremated, a graveside service may involve burying or scattering their ashes in a special place.

Often referred to as a “direct burial,” a graveside ceremony gives loved ones the opportunity to grieve, in lieu of a traditional service. Graveside services typically last about 30 minutes, but can be any length in time, depending on the family’s preferences, as can the actual program followed.

The most deciding factor when choosing a celebrant is whether or not the ceremony will be religious. You may choose a loved one’s spiritual leader, or if you prefer that the graveside service has no religious undertones, ask your funeral director for a recommendation or you can ask a family member or friend.

Traditionally, the celebrant may choose to gather information about the deceased individual’s personality and other details, to incorporate into the talk or sermon. Typically, the service will have a moment of silence or prayer reflection, often followed by some type of music. The most important aspect of the ceremony is that it provides comfort and closure to the deceased individual’s loved ones.

When planning a funeral or graveside service, let a professional funeral director guide your way. Not only can they walk you through the process, but they are compassionate and empathetic to those who are grieving.

Expert Contributor Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr., F.D, of DANJOLELL Memorial Homes

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